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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Sunday Snippets: Under Our Lady's Shadow

My blessings are hemmed in
by frustration. I just noticed that. Am I so busy that I simply
don't notice the blessings surrounding me until frustration stops me?
I strongly suspect that's the case. Lately, in my eagerness to get
things done, I easily lose sight of the truly important. Those
things that aren't things at all. And in all my rushing around I
accomplish less. That's an important lesson and one that I'm
learning all too slowly.

Case in point: This
morning I pulled up the daily Mass on EWTN's website, settled Boo and
myself on the comfortable sofa to participate through the internet.
I mean, if we can't attend a local Mass because of Boo's health
problems, then we can at least participate this way. We have many
times before and have been richly blessed by it.

Not today. Today life
intervened and Boo needed attention and comfort. He couldn't
concentrate on the Mass because his mind was too restless and
wandering. He was filled with anxiety about the strange paths his
mind was taking and unable to differentiate the past from the present
and reality from fantasy. A very scary place to be indeed.

Then...a “commercial”
(maybe a short meditation?) came on. I'm pretty sure I bumped the
laptop and hit a button. I don't think it was scheduled in the
middle of the Mass. An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on
the screen. Boo quieted and watched and listened.

“Hear
and let it penetrate into your heart, my little son; let nothing
discourage you, nothing depress you. Let nothing alter your heart or
your countenance. Also do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety
or pain. Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my
shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in
the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything
else that you need?”

In
awe, Boo looked at me. “She's talking to me.
She
understands and she's taking care of us.”

I
wish I could say that Boo relaxed and that his mind quit it's mad
racing. But that's not what happened. He's still confused and
uneasy. Today is still a struggle. However, in the midst of this
day's struggle, we have been given a message of motherly comfort just
when we most needed it.

8 comments:

It is so awesome how grace just comes along when we most need it. I experienced a similar thing at Mass this morning. I can see why you understand my watchfulness. I love OL of Guadalupe and that is one of my favorite quotes.Prayers for you and Boo.Thanks for joining us at Sabbath Moments.

As a recent convert, there is so much that I don't know. I know pitifully little about OL of Guadalupe, but this particulat quote at this particular time was pure grace. I do plan to search out some books and learn more.

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About Me

We are Catholic Christians on a journey into the unknown world of life after stroke,
of learning to handle changing physical and mental abilities,
of finding creative ways to foster independence
and, most of all, loving God, each other and our family.